Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

The United States Federal Reserve System is the central bank of the United States. It was founded by Congress in 1913 to provide the nation with a safer, more flexible and more stable monetary and financial system. It is a federal system, composed of a central, governmental agency and 12 regional Federal Reserve Banks. These 12 banks and their branches carry out a variety of system functions, including operating a nationwide payments system; distributing the nation s currency and coin; supervising and regulating member banks and bank holding companies; and serving as banker for the U.S. Treasury. The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia is responsible for the Third District, which covers eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, and the state of Delaware. Like all Reserve Banks, the Philadelphia Federal has a large and varied constituency, including depository institutions, local businesses, consumers, investors, educators and community groups.